| As you've no doubt discovered,
The Logo Creator (TLC) makes logo creation
simple and fun! Once you have your perfect
new logo created you need to start spreading
around that logo in order to enhance your
business identity. What better way to get
started than to put it on a business card?
As I found out, with TLC, getting my logo
onto a business card is just about as easy
as creating the logo itself! Here's how easy
it is: |
| Step
One: Preparing the Logo File |
| Start with the logo file that you just created
by opening it up in TLC. Here's my logo, we'll
use this for our example: |
 |
| Now, from the File menu,
select Save As... and save
your logo out as a new file which will become
your business card file. I called mine imajlogo_bizcard.tlc
to distinguish it from the logo file which
is called imajlogo.tlc. |
| Step
Two: Canvas Size |
| Now you need to resize your canvas to accomodate
the contact information that you will need
to put on your business card. From the Modify
menu select Set Canvas Dimensions...
(it's near the bottom of the menu). You will
get a box that looks like this: |
 |
 |
|
| Business cards are 2" x 3.5".
In order to determine the canvas dimensions
use the table below. The higher (better) the
resolution, the larger your canvas dimensions
need to be. |
|
Resolution
pixels/inch |
Canvas
Dimensions |
| 150 |
525 x 300 |
| 300 |
1050 x 600 |
| 600 |
2100 x 1200 |
|
| |
| I chose to go with 1050 x 600 because it
gives me more room to work with on the canvas
and it's a good enough size to give me good
resolution. If your logo has shadowing, spheres
or even a photo in it, you may want to try
the larger size, but 1050 x 600 should be
more than adequate for just about all logo
designs. Click in the width
box and enter 1050 into it and for the height
enter 600 (or whichever dimensions you decided
to go with). Click okay and
your canvas is resized. |
| |
| Step
Three: Designing the Layout |
There are many different ways you can
layout your business card. You'll probably
need to make some minor adjustments to your
logo to accomodate the size and shape of
the card as well as your contact information.
Move or resize your logo and add text elements
for your name, title, address and contact
information. Avoid using fancy or "cutsy"
fonts for your contact info. Use something
that compliments your logo font (assuming
there is text in your logo).
Designing the layout of the of your card
will most likely involve altering your logo
some. Mostly, moving the text around. I
took my business name from the bottom of
my logo and made it part of my contact information.
Try several different variations to see
what you like best. Remember to try and
keep a good balance of the elements. I showed
different versions of mine to friends and
family before I selected the one I am currently
using. Posting on the TLC
forums can also get you lots of opinions
and/or ideas for improvments.
Here are four different variations of my
card:
As you can see, there are many different
things you can do with the layout. If you're
wondering, the one that I chose for my final
design is the one in the upper left corner.
That one seemed to have the best balance
and maintained the original look of my logo
closest.
|
| Step
Four: Printing the Final Product |
Once you have selected the
design you want, it's time to print! TLC
has a built in print function for business
cards that makes this a snap. You can now
print your cards right on your color printer
using some card stock or business card stock
available at any office supply store. For
my cards, I printed on Avery Ink
Jet Clean Edge Business Cards (No.
8871 or No. 38871). Unfortunately these
only come in white as far as I can tell.
Most business card packs come with a template
sheet. I highly recommend printing out a
draft version of your cards first and compare
it with the template to make sure the cards
will line up.
In TLC go to the File
menu and select Preview Business
Cards to get an idea of how they
will print out on the page. Simply click
on the print preview screen to close it.
This just gives you an idea of how it is
going to print on the page. Before you print,
check to be sure your print margins are
set to 0.75 on the left and 0.50 on the
top. You do this by selecting Adjust
Business Card Margins from the
File menu. Once your margins
are set, print your test sheet of cards
by selecting Print Business Cards
from the File menu. Don't
print on the card stock until you check
to be sure the cards line up with the template
provided with your business card stock.
If you decide not to use the Avery Business
Cards, you do have other options for printing.
One option is to simply get some good card
stock paper that will work with your printer.
Then print out as many pages as you need
cards and take them to some place like Kinko's
(a copier service) and have them cut the
sheets for you. They have big machines that
will cut thick stacks of paper. You usually
pay per cut, but it's relatively inexpensive
and with the template used by TLC, you only
need 9 cuts.
Another option is to export your business
card to a high resolution graphic format
and have it printed at a printshop.
|
| Step
Five: Distribution |
Now you have professional business cards
with your new logo on them! Start distributing
them to clients, friends and family! You
can even explore some cool marketing ideas
like putting your business card on a magnet
for clients to keep on their fridge or metal
file cabinet at their office. Check out
online sources like www.magnetsusa.com
or www.houseofmagnets.com
Tutorial by Jami Garrison, aka "jamirae"
on the TLC
forums
|
